Release Detail

June 12, 2002 - Sex Abuse Priests And Bishops Who Hid Them Should Go,
American Catholics Tell Quinnipiac University Poll;
Catholics 3-1 Want Equal Say In Dealing With Issue

The Catholic Church should have a 'zero tolerance' policy towards priests who sexually
abuse young people, removing them from the priesthood after one proven case, Catholics
say 87 - 8 percent in a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

Lay people should have an equal voice with clergy in deciding how to deal with
priests accused of sex abuse, Catholics say 70 - 20 percent.

And lay people should have equal power with clergy in dealing with the
administration and finances of the church, Catholics say 65 - 25 percent.

"'One strike and you're out - everywhere' should be the rule for sexual
misconduct by clergy, Catholics say. Lay people are not happy with the way the bishops
have handled this scandal and they want equal power in dealing with the issue," said
Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "And as long as
we're talking about more power, Catholics say, give us an equal voice in handling
church administration and finances."

"Most Catholics think 'meaningful improvements' will come out of the bishops
meeting this week, but many have lost faith in their church leaders," Carroll said.

By a 63 - 23 percent margin, Catholics say the U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops meeting in Dallas this week "will produce meaningful improvements in the way
the church handles the issue of sexual abuse of young people by priests."

Only 2 percent of Catholics say the Church has done an "excellent" job dealing
with the controversy, while 22 percent say the Church has done a "good" job; 37 percent
say "not so good" and 28 percent say "poor."

American Catholics also told the independent Quinnipiac University Poll:

89 - 6 percent that every diocese in the U.S. should be required to report to civil
authorities all accusations of sexual abuse by priests against young people;

63 - 25 percent that priests should be allowed to marry;

63 - 26 percent that women should be allowed to become priests;

The news media has given too much coverage to the controversy over alleged sex
abuse by priests, 37 percent of Catholics say, while 12 percent say the media has
provided too little coverage, and 47 percent say the coverage has been about right.

Eighteen percent of Catholics say the controversy has shaken their faith in
Catholicism, while 80 percent say it has not. The controversy has shaken their faith in
their own parish priest, 16 percent say, while 79 percent say it has not.

The controversy has shaken their faith in bishops and cardinals, 42 percent say,
while 14 percent say it has shaken their faith in the Pope.

"It's not on the Dallas agenda, but Catholics say more than 2 - 1 that priests
should be allowed to marry and that women should be allowed to become priests,"
Carroll said.

From June 4 - 10, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,271 residents nationwide,
with a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percent. The survey includes 321 Catholics
nationwide, with a margin of error of +/- 5.5 percent.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts
public opinion surveys nationwide and in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and
Pennsylvania as a public service and for research.
Complete poll information is available at www.quinnipiac.edu or call (203) 582-5201

1. How important would you say religion is in your life - very important,
fairly important, or not very important?

Total Catholics

Very important 59% 60%
Fairly important 25 30
Not very important 15 10
DK/NA - -

2. Would you say you attend religious services every week, almost every
week, once or twice a month, a few times a year, or never?

Total Catholics

Every week 28% 30%
Almost every week 13 15
Once or twice a month 13 14
A few times a year 27 30
Never 18 10
DK/NA 1 1

3. How closely have you followed news stories about the controversy over
sexual abuse of young people by Catholic priests? Very closely, fairly
closely, not too closely, or not at all closely?

4. How would you rate the Catholic Church's handling of allegations of sexual
abuse of young people by priests? Excellent, good, not so good, or poor?

Total Catholics

Excellent 2% 2%
Good 14 22
Not so good 35 37
Poor 37 28
DK/NA 12 10

5. Do you think that Catholic bishops who did not report allegations of sexual
abuse of young people by priests to public authorities and instead relocated
these priests to other churches, should resign from their positions or don't
you think so?

Total Catholics

Yes/Should resign 76% 69%
No/Should NOT
resign 13 20
DK/NA 10 11

6. As you may know, the Catholic Church does not allow priests to marry.
Do you think this policy contributes to the problem of sexual abuse of
young people by priests or not?
IF "YES" -- Would you say it contributes a great deal, some, or only a
little?

10. (If "Catholic" Q9) Has the controversy over sexual abuse of young people
by priests, shaken your faith in Catholicism, or not?

Catholics 04/11/02

Yes 18% 15%
No 80 83
DK/NA 2 3

11. (If "Catholic" Q9) Has the controversy over sexual abuse of young people
by priests, shaken your faith in your own parish priest, or not?

Catholics 04/11/02

Yes 16% 10%
No 79 86
DK/NA 5 4

12. (If "Catholic" Q9) Has the controversy over sexual abuse of young people
by priests, shaken your faith in Bishops and Cardinals, or not?

Catholics 04/11/02

Yes 42% 32%
No 55 63
DK/NA 3 4

13. (If "Catholic" Q9) Has the controversy over sexual abuse of young people
by priests, shaken your faith in the Pope, or not?

Catholics 04/11/02

Yes 14% 13%
No 82 83
DK/NA 4 4

14. (If "Catholic" Q9) Do you favor or oppose allowing Catholic priests to get
married?

Catholics 04/11/02

Favor 63% 67%
Oppose 25 22
DK/NA 12 11

15. (If "Catholic" Q9) Do you favor or oppose allowing women to be ordained as
Catholic priests?

Catholics 04/11/02

Favor 63% 65%
Oppose 26 26
DK/NA 10 9

16. (If "Catholic" Q9)As you may know the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
annual meeting will be held this month in Dallas. Do you think the bishops
should or should not do each of the following; (Intro to q16 - q20)

-- Do you think the bishops should or should not --
give lay people an equal voice in deciding how to deal with sexually abusive
priests?

Catholics

Should 70%
Should not 20
DK/NA 10

17. (If "Catholic" Q9, see intro q16) Do you think the bishops should or
should not -- give lay people an equal voice in dealing with the administration
and finances of the church?

Catholics

Should 65%
Should not 25
DK/NA 10

18. (If "Catholic" Q9, see intro q16) Do you think the bishops should or
should not -- recommend a zero tolerance policy toward priests who sexually
abuse young people, which means that any priest who is found to have sexually
abused a young person in one case is automatically removed from the priesthood?

Catholics

Should 87%
Should not 8
DK/NA 5

19. (If "Catholic" Q9, see intro q16) Do you think the bishops should or should
not -- recommend that every diocese in the country be required to report to
public authorities all accusations of sexual abuse of young people by priests?

Catholics

Should 89%
Should not 6
DK/NA 4

20. (If "Catholic" Q9) Do you think the U.S Conference of Catholic Bishops
meeting this month in Dallas will or will not produce meaningful improvements
in the way the church handles the issue of sexual abuse of young people
by priests?